Sir Tony, 42, was ordered to stop as police suspected the pair were secretly snooping while they circled posh Mayfair in West London.

The Grand National winner was ashen-faced but the officer who poked his head through the driver’s window clocked him and said: “That explains everything.”

Sir Tony admitted: “I haven’t actually got my driving licence.”

But the policeman said: “It’s OK, Tony, I know who you are, it’s all right.”

Before sending the nervy pair on their way, the officer added: “We are on the lookout for all sorts... I was going to say covert surveillance but when I saw the camera on the front of the car I thought surely not.”

The sirens of the unmarked police cars wailed as Sir Tony, who retired last year, filmed an interview for Great British Racing, the official organisation that promotes the sport.